Notes on usability and related things by a project manager who manages electronic publishing projects.

February 12, 2011

Multiplication Tables - just about everyone lucky enough to get the benefit of a modern education has to learn them. And although the times tables can be an entry into a world of pleasing patterns, there's usually just no substitute for the chore of memorizing them.Nearly forty years ago I was at that stage. I remember my parents and I made some flash cards on which I drilled until I had it. That's not an approach that has been working at all well for my daughter though. So I had a look to see what the world of iphone apps might offer. There are many times tables apps, and I picked on Squeebles . Squeebles is proving quite a success for my daughter- which is a bit of a surprise, since it is basically the app equivalent of flash cards and a star chart.

I suppose that this is yet another illustration of the principle of Tom Sawyer and the Fence (the only difference between work you avoid and fun that you crave is whether you think it is work or fun.)